Published by World Tibet Network News - Wednesday, November 29, 1995

BEIJING, Nov 29 (Reuter) - China said on Wednesday a six-year-old boy from northern Tibet has been chosen as the reincarnation of the Himalayan region's second holiest lama.

The boy, Gyaincain Norbu, from Nagqu prefecture, was chosen as the recipient of the soul of the 10th Panchen Lama who died in January 1989 by drawing lots from a golden urn, China's official Xinhua news agency said.

Chinese State Councillor Luo Gan presided over a ceremony in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, in which Gyaincain Norbu was chosen from three candidates, Xinhua said.

Several hundred people, including members of the search team, attended the ceremony, it said.

The Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled god-king, announced in May his recognition of a different six-year-old Tibetan boy, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, as the 11th Panchen Lama, enraging officially atheist China.